Dearest Friend,
I’m sure that even if you are not a Taylor Swift fan (it’s OK, you’re still welcome here) you will not have escaped news of the release of 11th studio album “The Tortured Poets Department” next week.
When I first heard the announcement at ridiculous o’clock in the am having stayed up to watch the GRAMMYs, my first thoughts turned to what genre it might be? What stories might be told? Will it be a “folklore”style telling of (supposedly) made up tales or a more “dishing of the dirt” variety. I honestly think she could do a covers version of the “In the Night Garden” soundtrack and I would love it (and oh, now I think of it, Taylor Swift, if you’re reading - PLEASE do that, it would be all sorts of fabulous).
The waiting weeks that have passed have seen my thoughts turn to the title. Initially I had hoped it might be an album full of collaborations of current day tortured poets - Lana Del Rey, The National, Bon Iver, Moby, Ólafur Arnalds, Billie Eilish, Florence Welch, Brandon Flowers (Pressure Machine was a departure for The Killers for sure but slots him into this category solidly and I would argue that he’s carried depth quite stealthily into The Killers bangers and big hits for years - also, a mashup of both their versions of The Man could be fun, I digress…), the inevitable Coldplay appearance. My musical sphere has grown small of late thanks to the head injury and so I am sure there are countless I have missed, but those were my initial thoughts. When it transpired (quite quickly thanks to leaky internet holes) that this wouldn’t be the case, I thought of how this will soundtrack so many young lives and the musicians of my own youth.
And so formed a Department of the Tortured Poets of my Teenage Years. Jeff Buckley snuck in because although he didn’t form part of my teenage experience I’m leaving post-it notes across the universe for other teen versions of myself to find him. I know that 16 year old me would have been utterly in love with his music. In the words of Swift - “a real fucking legacy”.
I wasn’t cool enough for J.B, Massive Attack snuck in during my late teens. I was lucky enough to see Depeche Mode on their 86-98 tour (my first intro to the truly massive spectacle that can be arena shows), conversely I saw Heather Nova at a tiny show at the Glee Club in Birmingham (UK) and it was beautiful. All had a lasting impact. All there for the young loves, heartbreaks, friendships and stories of my youth. Many of them surfaced thanks to the likes of Dawson’s Creek and in wild contrast, the cinematic brooding elements of Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet soundtrack (Leo DiCaprio sitting on a wall, that scene, you know the one, beautifully accompanied by Radiohead).
I think Heartstopper and The Summer I Turned Pretty are the new versions of all that? The OC and One Tree Hill bridging the years between. I digress again (and the use of music to portray emotion in teen tv and film is a whole subject in and of itself), but now I wonder what came before? Buffy, My So Called Life? And before them? That’s a rabbit hole I’ll enjoy some other time. For now…
As always, the mix comes in under an hour and a half (because that’s all you can fit on a C-90 tape and I’m old-school about the idea if not the delivery vehicle of the thing), and I managed to keep to 19 tracks, because, teens.
Tell me who your tortured poets were over on Notes… And more importantly, am I missing out on teen shows of the moment that tell me what I should be listening to?
With love, the tortured teen variety of course,
V.V
P.S If you love a list or don’t have Spotify, the playlist is below.
Home - Depeche Mode
If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow
Hand in My Pocket - Alanis Morisette
I Don’t Want to Wait - Paula Cole
Fade Into You - Mazzy Star
You Could Make a Killing - Aimee Mann
What Would Happen - Meredith Brooks
World on Fire - Sarah McLachlan
Sullen Girl - Fiona Apple
Down So Long - Jewel
Heart And Shoulder - Heather Nova
Liquid Diamonds - Tori Amos
You Look So Fine (2018 - Remaster) - Garbage
Sinking - The Cure
Lilac Wine - Jeff Buckley
Glory Box - Live - Portishead
A Place Called Home - PJ Harvey
Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack
Exit Music (For A Film) - Radiohead
The Monthly Mix is a love letter to the mix tapes of my youth. Carefully curated and crafted, just for you. You can find more playlist joy right here. To make sure you don’t miss the next one…
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This month’s mix. Love it? Hate it? Recommendations? I’m here for all of it, please do share your thoughts in the comments below.
Massive Attack's Unfinished Sympathy is surely what the chef's kiss emoji was made for? 🤌🏻 Of course, at the time, emojis weren't even a thing on my naff old word processor!
I think we might be a similar age - that playlist made me really, really nostalgic. Wouldn't mind a bit of Perfect Blue Buildings by Counting Crows for added angst in there as well!